BOXING WAR OF WORDS ON EVE OF BIG FIGHT
John Ruiz has taunted David Haye, claiming: "Is boring the worst thing you can say about me?"
Ruiz had steeled himself for a barrage of abuse from WBA heavyweight king Haye after his verbal attacks on Nikolai Valuev when he dismissed the Beast from the East as a "smelly, hairy circus freak".
But the American challenger says he laughed when he heard the best insult Haye could come up with was to call him a "cure for insomnia".
The former two-time world champ sees this as a victory in the mind games between the fighters and can't wait to get in the ring with him at Manchester's MEN Arena on Saturday."If that's the worst thing he can say about me, then I'm very shocked because people say he really likes to talk," said Ruiz.
"If this is what he has to do to get motivated and get in fight mode, then he'd better do as much talking as he needs to because come Saturday, I'll be ready to do my talking in the ring."Ruiz, 38, first won the WBA crown when he beat the legendary Evander Holyfield nine years ago when Haye was still an amateur.
This will be the Quiet Man's 55th fight at heavyweight and he feels Haye, who has had just three fights at this weight, has never come up against someone of his pedigree.
"This is a test for him because he's going to realise this is a heavyweight fight here against a guy who comes to fight," he said.
"He's got a fight on his hands. We know he likes to move around a lot and at times take things easy, but we want to throw him off the groove, let him know that basically he's going to have to throw enough punches to keep me away from him."
Mandatory challenger Ruiz stepped aside in November so that the Londoner could take the title from Valuev and he feels this has worked to his advantage.
He lost twice to the giant Russian and did not fancy his chances of getting a decision in Germany if they had fought a third time.
"I congratulate David for winning the title," said Ruiz, who beat Turk Adnan Serin in seven rounds on the undercard that night in Nuremberg. "It gives me an opportunity to fight someone else other than Valuev, "This time with Haye I think it's better fight for me. I know he might be a better opponent than Valuev, but trust me, this is a better fight for me."
While Haye is motivated by the desire to fight the Klitschkos, Ruiz, who is an inch shorter than the champ at 6ft 2ins, is driven by the ambition of joining an elite band of fighters who have been three-time world champs.
"I could join some of the great names," he said.
RUIZ RECORD
Wins 44 (30 by KO)
Defeats 8 (1 by KO)
Draws 1
Ko win % 56
Rounds boxed 322
Age: 38 Height: 6ft 2in
Reach: 78 inches
Born and lives in Massachusetts, USA
Haye to win with 1st round KO 12-1; Ruiz to be counted out at any time 4-7; Haye to win on points 9/4; Ruiz to win by KO 13/2; Ruiz to win on points 10/1.
Freephone: 0800 44 40 40
Source: mirror.co.uk
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